ABSTRACT
Pain is the most common medical complaint of civilized man. The Nuprin Pain Report estimates that there are over 70 million Americans with pain severe enough to require medical care (Saper, 1987). The cost of pain to society in terms of medical bills, lower productivity, and absenteeism is staggering. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the pain management specialist with an overview of the role of neural blockade in the management of common pain syndromes encountered in clinical practice. Practical suggestions to simplify the care of these sometimes-difficult patients are also included.
